Mayor speaks out about construction site incidents

After a rash of accidents left 2 dead, the city of Fayetteville is routinely checking in on safety meetings.

FAYETTEVILLE,Ark. -

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan told 40/29 news what the city can specifically control on construction sites such as the Vue apartments where recent incidents have happened."The city is responsible for building safety and we make sure they follow the building codes and that inspection is passed. Now work place safety is actually the responsibility of the contractor first and fore most,"said Jordan.

Jordan said building safety includes things like making sure there is enough water to fight fires, that the site has proper access for emergency vehicles to get through. The city also regulates debris on the construction site. Jordan said when it comes to work place safety, they rely on OSHA and the Department of labor to investigate work site injuries and fatalities. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality investigates fuel spills on site.

40/29 news spoke to Alisa Blankenship who said the problems affect more than just the workers. "I don't know how many people have to die before somebody does something about it my friend was the first person that was killed over there," said Blankenship.

Blankenship said her friend was 20 year old Brannon Rhine who died in May when the ditch he was working in collapsed. 40 year old Jess Wilson also died on the Vue construction site when he was electrocuted. Just last week 700 hundred gallons of fuel spilled on the same Vue apartments during construction.

Blankenship told 40/29 news besides her worries over safety, her apartments just across from the Vue have lost power and water numerous times. She said she worries how reliable the apartments will be once they're completed."If they can't guarantee the safety of their workers and they’re so careless with that how safe are those apartments that they’re building,"said Blankenship.

She said the City of Fayetteville hasn't done anything about those issues.40/29 news took her concerns to Mayor Jordan. " I'm sure when the people call in we tell the people we're going to address the problem," said Jordan.

Osha is still investigating the Vue apartment construction incidents.The contractor listed for the Vue apartments is based in Houston. 40/29 news called Park Crest builders but we haven't heard back.???

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